Unions & Income Inequality

As much as commenters on the Journal-Sentinel's articles like to refer to union members as a "thugs" there's no denying that unions have had a very positive role in the rights and safety of workers, both in America and around the world.  Yes, they've had problems-but so have companies and corporations (child labor, anyone?).

The decline of unions in America has seen a correlation with a rise in income equality.  Kevin Drum looks at a study in the American Sociological Review that seems to show it's not just a correlation-it's cause and effect to a degree.  The decline of unions doesn't explain all or majority of the rise in income inequality, but there is a visible effect, up to a third in non-union members (apparently unions create an environment that lift all wages, not just for union members).

Kevin Drum closes with:

In other words, deunionization has allowed income inequality to rise partly because unions are negotiating wages for fewer people than they used to, and partly because unions no longer have the power to force the political system to pay attention to the needs of the middle class. But if income inequality has to be reduced in order for middle class wages to grow—and it does—and if robust middle class wages are a key driver of the liberal project—and they are—then we're all in big trouble. Mass unionization is gone, and it's not coming back. This means we still need something to take its place, and we still don't have it. Until we do, the progressive movement will continue to tread water.

I think that in absence of a worker union comeback, what takes its place has to be a consumer union.  The average consumer now has access to an incredible amount of information, much of it useless, but if enough consumers who care get together and collect information (or pay someone to do it via a membership fee), you could see an effect on how businesses treats its employees.  I suppose the best model might be Consumer Reports-not focusing in the quality of product, but the quality of the company.  This also would hold companies accountable for their policies around the world, not just in the United States.

PS-note that Drum is saying here that he believes protection of the middle class is a function of union, and that Progressives are supportive of protecting the middle class.  Which political party has declared a virtual war on unions?

Sad State of Media

Apparently there's a viral video of Matt Damon delivering a well-earned smack-down to a reporter who asked a stupid question.  I haven't seen it yet, but I did see an article on it from The Hollywood Reporter.  The article is titled Matt Damon Is Suddenly The Hollywood Liberal That Conservatives Love to Hate and it made me deplore for the state of dialogue in our culture.

The writer has great fun quoting multiple conservatives mocking Matt Damon's assertion that teachers aren't in it for the money, so financial incentives may not work as well-that they'll do a good job regardless.

I counted twelve people quoted-11 mockingly-but zero analysis of whether or not what he said was actually true or not.  Come on, this is a professional reporter not a unpaid blogger pounding away at the keyboard for fun.  I typed in "Financial Incentives for Teachers" and the top entry was this. And then a bit further down, there was an opposing this.

So maybe the reporter doesn't want to get into education policy for an entertainment article.  I get that.  But would it have been so hard to find a couple of quotes in support of Damon for "balance"  (as much as I deplore reporters who seek false balance when there is none) even though the article is about how conservatives are piling on to Damon?  I mean, a quote from a neighbor that "he is very classy is not exactly a rebuttal.

Yet Another Housing Study Proving Housing Ain't Affordable

The Center for Housing Policy has come out with a report, Paycheck to Paycheck, that documents the lack of affordable housing across the country.  They even have a cool interactive database.  Go check it out.

This joins other studies such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach and the Technical Assistance Collaborative & Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities' Priced Out in 2010 report.

An interesting feature of Paycheck to Paycheck is that they look at the jobs that are growing during this anemic recovery, and analyze if they're enough to afford a median 2-bedroom apartment.

New Rule

New rule:  If you have no frakin' idea what you're talking about, you're no longer allowed to participate in any discussions related to the subject, including votes, let alone sponsoring bills.

Yes, Representative Ed Royce, elected by the fine folks of California's 40th District, has no idea what he's talking about.  If he had any shame, he'd immediately withdraw his bill and apologize for wasting everyone's time.